Spencer Park Board members discussed the statewide no-smoking policy which went into effect July 1, and how they perceive it affecting the town's park and recreation system during their Thursday night meeting. While they agreed to sign department vehicles and park buildings first, Spencer Park and Recreation Director Delray Bredehoeft recommended they "ease into it and see what happens."

"We've got to sign all of our vehicles, and the buildings are pretty straightforward: There's no smoking in the buildings. Where we really run into some issues is the adjacent area or property to a public building," Bredehoeft told the board.

"I think it's probably going to take some time to get some definition to the law. ... So, the way we're going to approach it is we're going to sign the buildings. Then, something to give some thought to is where do we want to go with some of the other facilities? Pederson Park, where we have our bleacher areas and concession area, would be non-smoking. But it's kind of fuzzy whether or not that area between the concession stand and the bleachers is non-smoking or not. ... I think we need some more clarification, though, before that happens.

"I guess you could say we'll have no smoking in any of the parks -- but how do you enforce that?"

Board members also continued last month's discussion on potential park projects the city could submit for funding through an up-to-$125,000 Resource Enhancement and Protection grant. While it agreed June 18 to submit two applications this round -- one for enhancements in Deerfield Park and one for East Leach Park campground updates -- the board decided last night to narrow that to one REAP application for Deerfield Park.

As Bredehoeft reiterated to board members that two REAP applications for Deerfield Park have already been denied, he also noted he'd visited yesterday with Ross Harrison, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' REAP coordinator, and was told Spencer's chance of getting one application vs. multiple applications funded was better. It was also expressed one concern regarding an East Leach Park campground submission was that no official plan has been put together for it yet. This led the board toward discussion on the possibility of scheduling public meetings in order to gather such input from residents and campground users.

The three board members attending Thursday's meeting also reviewed the capital improvement projects scheduled to occur this fiscal year, which commenced on July 1. The $154,000 earmarked for Parks Department projects designated as fiscal year 2008-09 priorities include: The purchase of a $45,000 New Holland replacement mower; installation of a $50,000 basketball court at North School Park; replacement of a $3,500 water fountain in one neighborhood park; creation of a $10,000 Westview Park master plan; creation of a $10,000 plan for a community tree planting near Menards on U.S. Highway 71 South; replacement of a $7,500 fence on Field Four in Glen Pederson Park; replacing a $2,000 rototiller; replacement of windows in the East Leach Park enclosed shelter house; and the earmarking of $15,000 to tuck point the bandshell. Board members placed work on the new basketball court in North School Park and tuck pointing the bandshell in East Leach Park as priorities among all the fiscal year projects highlighted.

The board also learned the city of Spencer was recently awarded a $5,000 REAP/Historical Resources Development Program grant from the State Historical Society of Iowa for work to occur on the Freeman Township Country Schoolhouse located near the Spencer Family Aquatic Center. Grant funding, along with a $2,500 match in cash and $2,570 in in-kind donations, will be allocated for work on an entryway ceiling, resanding of the building's floor, installation of a brick sidewalk, interior window treatments, the purchase of school books, installation of a flag pole and spotlight, work to the building's exterior, landscaping, placement of a sign on the school, and the purchase, repair and installation of blackboards.

The former country school, which was moved in the fall of 2004 to its current site, is currently supported by the community's Kiwanis clubs through cash and in-kind assistance. With work anticipated to be completed on the building this fall, Bredehoeft mentioned its designated public use has not yet been determined. Comments were made regarding the reactivation of a Spencer Park Board committee and the potential implementation of a citizen-led action committee to address the future use of the building.

In other action and discussion, board members:

* Approved the city's $500,000 Community Attraction and Tourism grant agreement, which states in order to receive funding, work on the $2.2 million Grand Avenue bridge and boulevard enhancements must proceed within the next six months. Also in order to receive funding, completion on both is required by June 30, 2010. Of the $160,000 which must be raised locally as a match for the CAT grant, Bredehoeft said a $100,000 Department of Transportation grant being applied for may help.

* Welcomed Jason Warren as a new board member. Appointed Monday night by Mayor Reynold Peterson, Warren replaces Larry Clausen, a board member since 1992, around the board table.

* Were informed that the aquatic center's heating bill for the past month was $10,000. As Bredehoeft indicated he'd check into the cost of a pool cover for the pool's lap lanes, he noted turning the heater off during night hours would not save a lot of money. Bredehoeft also said when the pool was built, the cost to heat its 240,000 gallons of water ran around $10,000 for the entire season, or the three months it is open during the summer.

* Authorized a $7,200 charge from Crysteel Truck Equipment to equip two used trucks, purchased for $48,000 following last month's meeting, with storage containers. The two trucks replaced 1980 and 1984 vehicles.

* Approved a park use request for use of the Leach Park skatepark and bandshell for an Aug. 16-17 Extreme Am event.